Air conditioning device



Julie 12, 1934. C, H, KmwELL .un cormrlolum Davrqs Filed June 22, 1932 m.mm @ha mm 1% 1115 Avrorehuzvsv Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES AIRCONDITIONING DEVICE Cleo Harold Kidwell, Dongan Hills, Staten Island, N.Y., assigner to Kidwell & Co. Inc., WestI New Brighton, Staten Island,N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 22, 1932, Serial No.618,616

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to air conditioning apparatus andembodies, more specifically, an improved device for cooling andhumidifying a current of air. More particularly, the invention 5embodies an air conditioning apparatus wherein means is provided formaintaining a predetermined surface in a desired moisture-ladencondition, such surface being subjected to a flow of air wherebymoisture from the surface is evaporated to humidify and cool the lairleaving the surface. In this connection, it is recognized that deviceshave heretofore been provided for conditioning air by subjecting it tomoisture-laden surfaces in order that the evaporation of moisture fromsuch surfaces may humidify and reduce the temperature of the air. It isalso known to provide devices of thischaracter wherein an air current issuccessively baffled by suitable conditioning apparatus and the presentinvention seeks to provide an improved conditioning apparatus wherebythe flow of air therethrough is subjected to a conditioning surfacewhich is maintained in a uniformly moisture-laden condition, tneapparatus being simple in construction and effective in operation.

An object of the invention, accordingly, is to provide an airconditioning apparatus whereby a suitable conditioning surface is'maintained in a predetermined moisture-laden condition whereby theeffective conditioning of air currents passing vthereover is provided.

A further object of the invention is to provide a conditioning apparatusof the above character wherein the conditioning surface is rotatablymounted in order that it may rotate in response lto the flow of fluidthereover.

A further object of the invention is to provide an air conditioningapparatus having a conditioning rotor formed with surfaces of wettablematerial, means being provided to supply moisture to such surface in apredetermined fashion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a conditioning apparatusofthe above character wherein the wettable material is mounted upon arotor and is rotated by the flow of airtherethrough.

A further object of the invention is to provide a conditioning apparatushaving a rotor of the character described above and means to direct a55. a means for supplying moisture to a conditioning apparatus in suchquantity that the conditioning apparatus is in a predeterminedmoisture-laden condition without causing air currents thereover to pickup and direct a spray of water therefrom.

A further object of theinvention is to provide a conditioning apparatushaving the foregoing characteristics and being simple of constructionwhereby the same may be readily manufactured and operated, at the sametime serving to condition, effectively, air currents subjected thereto.

Further objects, not specifically enumerated above, will be apparent asthe invention is described in greater detail in connection with the.accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in section, taken on line 1-1 of Figure 2, andlooking in the direction of the arrows, showing one form of apparatusconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a View in front elevation, showing the device of Figure 1. l

Figure 3 is a detail segmental view taken through the axis of the rotorshown in Figures 1 and 2, and illustrating the construction of theblades thereof.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the rotor in elevation.

With reference to the above drawing' the invention will be seen toinclude a cabinet-like unita whichl may be of any suitable size andshape, these elementsbeing available in accordance with the taste andrequirements of individual installations and not forming any part of thepresent invention. The specific construction shown includes arectangularly shaped cabinet 90 having a reservoir b formed in the upperportion thereof. This reservoir may be filled through a filler spout chaving a cap d which, when secured in position, seals the reservoir fromthe' atmosphere. 95

Adjacent the lower portion ofthe cabinet, a water pan e is provided, aconduit f communicating between the reservoir and the Water pan. A valveor stop cock g is provided in the conduit f in order that the latter maybel closed when the cap d is removed to fill the reservoir b, thuspreventing the discharge of the contents of the reservoir b into thewater pan e under such conditicns.v

Between the reservoir and Water pan, the cabinet is formed with a rearrectangular opening h and a front circular opening i having a lowerstraight edge y' whichv serves to prevent the overflow of water from.the water pan e. I The length of pipe f is made such as toy preserve awater frames have inturned endsp which engage aper-l tures or recesseswithin the discs n and the 'frames o are adapted to be inserted withinpockets q which are formed of a suitablefabric and drawn overtherespective frames. A peripheral band 1- of material issecured to theends of the pockets q and the ends of this band are sewed together toform an annular element shown in Figures 2 and 4.

It has been found that capillarity does not supply moisture fast enoughto an absorbent surface to maintain a sufficient quantity of moisturetherein to produce maximum evaporation of moisture when a volume of airis passed over the surface from the standard electric fans now availablefor home use. Accordingly, therefore, the present invention seeks toprovide a device wherein the capillary action is supplemented by theflow of moisture under gravitational action to maintainthe surface ofthe rotor in a statewherein maximum moisture is preserved therein. Thisoperation, in the form of the invention illustrated herein, necessitatesthe rotation of the conditioning member, such rotation being effected bythe mounting of the rotor l upon brackets s and v. Bracket s may beangularly formed and secured vto the inner side of the front wall of thecabinet to journal an extension t of shaft m therein. Bracket e isformed with notches x at either end thereof which are adapted to engagepins w upon the rear inner side of the cabinet and this bracket journalsan extension u of the shaft m. Such construction enables the rotor to beremoved by lifting the bracket e and removing the rotor from the rear ofthe cabinet, as will be readily apparent from Figure 2. In order thatthe rotor may be mounted as near the rear side ofthe cabinet aspossible, extension u is preferably shorter than extension t.

Behind the cabinet, a fan y is placed, the fan being mounted to directair through the rotor, as

will be apparent from an inspection of Figure 1.

lInasmuch as the blades of the fan are at an "angle to a plane passingperpendicularly through the axis thereof, the planes of the frames o andpockets q' may Dass through or be parallel to the axis of shaft m. Theair which is directed through the rotor will thus have a driving effectupon the rotor and cause the rotation thereof to drive the wettedportion of the peripheral band 1' to the top to cause the rotor tobecome saturated with moisture. Handles z may be secured to the sidesofthe cabinetto facilitate carrying the same and the operation of thedevice will be readily apparent. Inasmuch as the cooling and humidifyingof the volume of air from the fan is-effected, it is desirable that thevelocity of the air passing through the'device be such as to enable amaximum moisture absorption to take place per unit volume of air.

In order that the level of the water within the pan e may be regulatedas desired, the conduit is mounted with capacity for verticaladjustment. While the particular means for mounting tlry conduit jadjustable vertically may be varied, one form of adjustable mounting isshown in the drawings and includes a knurled adjustable nut f' which maybe threaded to the lower outlet of the valve casing g. This nut isapertured to receive l the end of conduit f, the latter being providedwith a washer` of rubber or other suitable ma terial f2 which is adaptedto be secured between the nut and the valve casing. When the nut istightened the Washer f2 is compressed against.

during its movement therethrough. By reason of i the evaporation whichvtakes place', the air issuing from the cabinet isat a lower temperaturethan the entering air, the latent heat of vaporization having beenremoved therefrom.

The specific material from whichk the rotor is made, as well as theangle of the blades and construction -of associated elements may bevaried 4to suit individual requirements Without departing from the scopeof the present invention. The fan may be embodied Within the unit ifdesired and other changes made to adapt the structure for various uses,the scope of the invention being defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. An air conditioning apparatus adapted for use in connection with afiow of air comprising a. water pan, a rotatable member on the panformed with a hub, a plurality of frames extending outwardly from thehub, a plurality of pocket form.- ing fabric members for the respectiveframes, and a fabric band connecting the ends of the pocket formingmembers and forming a peripheral band for the rotatable member.

2. An air conditioning apparatus comprising a cabinet formed with frontand rear apertures, a Water pan in' the cabinet below the apertures, areservoir in the cabinet above the apertures, a

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conduit communicating with the" reservoir and having an open endextending into the water pan, a valve in the conduit, a rotor mounted inthe cabinet, a plurality of fabric arms having extended outer edges onthe rotor, and a peripheral fabric band connected tothe ends of the armsalong and contacting directly with the extended outer edges thereof,said rotor being so positioned and mounted as to extend into said Waterpan at its lower edge.

' v3, In'combination with. means to supply a flow of air having eddiesand currents at angles to the direction of flow, a rotor adapted to bedriven by such air fiow, said rotor comprising a rotatable hub having aplurality of flat supporting members extending outwardly `therefrom andlying in planes substantially parallel to and radially disposed from theaxis of rotation of the hub, water Wettable members extending along andattached to said flat supporting members, and means to CLEO OLD :fim-

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